The Scottish Government hopes to have powers to enforce social distancing in place by today. Speaking at St Andrew’s House in Edinburgh, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said people who break rules could be subject to prohibition notices and could be liable for on-the-spot fines and prosecution. It comes as another three coronavirus patients in Scotland have died, bringing the total to 25.

She also said the number of people who had tested positive for Covid-19 had risen by 175 from Wednesday’s total, from 719 to 894.

Speaking in Edinburgh, Ms Sturgeon said: “We are now preparing regulations to give police in Scotland enforcement powers.

“Colleagues in the UK Government are working to do the same and we expect these regulations to be in force as soon as possible perhaps as early as today.

“The regulations give us power to enforce rules which most people are now following anyway and I want to thank people across the country for their compliance with the advice.

“These enforcement powers I hope do not have to be used but they are there to ensure that we can make sure the right things are done to delay the spread of the virus.

“Where necessary the powers can demand the closure of businesses and premises and help to ensure social distancing is enforced by those businesses and premises which are able to continue operating.

“It will also help to enforce the rule that there should be no public gatherings of more than two people except people from the same household.

“They will also enforce the measure to stay at home and those found not to be following the rules will be made to return home or be subjet to prohibition notices.”

Ms Sturgeon added that safeguards will be in place which will be reviewed every 21 days and the new legislation will last a maximum of six months,

She announced that the Scottish Government has brought an extra 1.5 million face masks into use from the NHS Scotland stockpile during the coronavirus epidemic.

The First Minister explained the masks had passed expiry dates of June and August 2019 but have gone through “extensive testing” which has shown them fit for use.

Scotland’s health secretary Jeane Freeman added that the Scottish Government is also paying “very close and detailed daily attention” to the overall stock of personal protective equipment for health and social staff.

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